Refuse compressor

ABSTRACT

A refuse compressor has a housing provided with inlet means through which quantities of refuse to be compressed may be admitted into the interior chamber of the housing. A platen is received in this chamber for sliding forward movement towards one end wall of the chamber to thereby compress the refuse, and for return movement away from the end wall of the chamber. An operating arrangement is associated with the platen and serves to cause the latter to move forward at a first speed and under a first pressure, and to cause the platten to return to its starting position at a higher second speed but under a lower second pressure. Drain openings are provided in the region of a door of the housing, through which liquid expressed from the refuse may leave the housing.

Unite Ligh States atent [191 [451 Apr. 30, 1974 1 1 REFUSE COMPRESSOR David R. Ligh, 193 Main St., Madison, NJ. 07940 [76] Inventor:

[62] Division of Ser. No. 884,178, Dec. 11, 1969,

9/1956 7 Gramelspacher 3,228,323 l/l966 Schohl 100/52 X 3,603,247 9/1971 Price et a1 l0O/295 X Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Striker [5 7 ABSTRACT A refuse compressor has a housing provided with inlet means through which quantities of refuse to be compressed may be admitted into the interior chamber of the housing. A platen is received in this chamber for sliding forward movement towards one end wall of the chamber to thereby compress the refuse, and for return movement away from the end wall of the chamber. An operating arrangement is associated with the platen and serves to cause the latter to move forward at a first speed and under a first pressure, and to cause the platten to return to its starting position at a higher second speed but under a lower second pressure. Drain openings are provided in the region of a door of the housing, through which liquid expressed from the refuse may leave the housing.

5 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures WWW 3301.294 sum 2 of 6 FIG.3

PATENTED APR 3 0 i974 sum 6 or 6 REFUSE COMPRESSOR 3 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a division of my co-pending application Ser. No. 884,178, filed on Dec. 11, 1969 under the title Refuse Compressor and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to refuse compressors, and in. particular to refuse compressors which are suitable for both household and commerical use.

The disposal of refuse, particularly in urban areas, is a problem which is becoming more and more critical.

Aside from increasing population density there is the v fact that more and more items are packaged in every more elaborate packaging material and manner. Many articles which conventionally were supplied in containers returnable to the manufacture for reuse, such as milk, carbonated beverages and the like, are now sup.- plied in so-called one-way containers which are discarded by the purchaser when they are emptied. Other articles are packaged in cans, in molded or extruded plastic packages, in cardboard, in metal foil, in packages utilizing composites of these materials, in bulky foam-plastic packages, glass bottles and the like. None of these packaging materials are as readily destroyed or reduced in bulk as the simpler typesof packaging materials which were customary until even a few years ago, such as bags or paper wrappings.

The result of all this is a refuse mixboth in household use and in commerical establishmentswhich requires for storage until its collection a much greater volume of space than was heretofore necessary. Added to this is the fact that the disposal of such refuse presents refuse-collecting services-whether private or municipal-with ever-increasing disposal problems.

One way to alleviate this problem is to compact the refuse, that is to compress it whereby to reduce its bulk with simultaneous elimination of the voids between the constituent components of refuse. Thus compacted refuse can then be loaded on trucks for carting, in a more advantageous manner also, because voids are then also eliminated or substantially reduced in loading the v trucks. However, equipment available for this purpose heretofore has not been entirely satisfactory for a vari ety of reasons, including the fact that it has been very complicated and therefore expensive, and also quite bulky. For thisreason such equipment has not been practical for many applications, for instance for household use and for such commerical establishments as do not have available the necessary space for installation of the equipment and/or were unable for economic reasons to obtain such equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a refuse compressor which is rather simple in its construction but reliable in its operation, and comparatively inexpensive because of its simplicity.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a refuse compressor which is capable of drastically reducing the bulk of refuse and express and remove the compacted refuse such liquids as may have been originally contained in the refuse mix.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a refuse compressor which is provided with a housing having an elongated internal chamber bounded in part by two longitudinally spaced opposite walls. Inlet means communicates with this chamber for admitting into the latter quantities of refuse to be compressed. Platen means is received in the chamber for sliding forward movement therein from a retracted position closer to one of the walls to an advanced position closer to the other of the walls for compressing the admitted refuse between the other wall and the platen means during such forward movement, and the platen means is further capable of sliding return movement from the advanced position to its retracted position. Finally, I provide operating means for effecting the forward movement of the platen means to the advanced position at a first speed and under a first pressure, and for effecting the return movement of the platen means to its retracted position with a higher second speed and under a lower second pressure.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation,

together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view, partly broken away, of one embodiment of a refuse compressor according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating in sideelevation a feature of the embodiment in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating a further feature of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section through the liquid collecting member as used in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the strainer, grease trap and clean-out unit of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detail view, on an enlarged scale, of a cylinder and piston arrangement according to the present invention for propelling the platen;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic lay-out of a hydraulic sysv tem for use in a refuse compressor according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a refuse compactor representing a further embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 9a is a fragmentary detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing a further embodiment;

FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 9, looking toward the right in the latter Figure;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a platen according to yet a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 12 is a section on line XIIXII of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS but the housing 1 shown in FIG. 1 is slightly downwardly inclined towards the door 4 which constitutes one of its end walls. The degree of inclination is indicated with reference numeral 3. It is emphasized, however, that the degree of inclination to the horizontal, whose purpose will become apparent subsequently, may differ from that which has been shown-in the drawing and that, furthermore, the housing could also be arranged in upright position instead of being substantially horizontal. 1

As pointed out, atthe lower end of the housing 1 there is provided a door 4 which is connected to the housing by sturdy hinges 5 whose particular construction is not part of the invention. Suitable reinforcements are provided, for instance at the exterior of the door 4, so that the latter can withstand the pressures which develop against it when refuse is being compressed, as will be discussed subsequently. The reinforcements, also, are not a part of the invention and are not illustrated.

Reference numeral 6 identifies the open end of the housing 1, and reference numeral 7 a cylindrical seal of suitablematerial, such as rubber or elastomeric material of a synthetic nature, which is compressed against the end face of the housing 1 when the door 4 is moved to closed position, to prevent leakage between the end face of the housing 1 and the door 4. Reference numeral 8 identifies diagrammatically illustrated latches of any suitable type; their construction forms no part of the invention and it need simply be remembered that on the one hand they must be strong enough to hold the door 4 in closed position against the internal pressure developing in the housing 1, and on the other hand they should-advantageously be of the quick-acting type to permit rapid latching and unlatching of the door 4.

The housing 1 is provided with a cut-out opening 9 and a hopper 10 is mounted on the housing 1 so as to ing 1 remains between the cut-out 9 and the end face 6, rather than having the cut-out 9 extend all the way or substantially all the way to the end face 6. The reason for this is that a full load of refuse introduced into the housing 1 is compre'ssed-assuming the compression chamber of the housing 1 to be substantially of 20- inch diameter-to make a package of between approximately 3 and 5 inches axial length. This package is completely accommodated in the cylindrical section 11, which means that when the refuse of any given load is compressed into this cylindrical section 11, none of it can escape through the cut-out 9.-

Located closer to the opposite end wall of the housing 1 there is provided a circular platen 12 which is supported on a plunger 12a to guide and maintain its relative vertical position and is connected with the piston rod 15 of a piston 13, the latter being associated with a cylinder 14, preferably of the hydraulically activated type. The cylinder and piston arrangements 13,14 is double-acting as will be described later, and when the platen is moved forwardly to a compacting position, that is towards the door 4, it compresses the refuse introduced through the cut-out 9 against the closed door 4. The platen 12 is connected with the piston rod 15 via a swivel joint to enable it to perform self-aligning movements, meaning that it has limited freedom of pivoting movement with respect to the piston rod 15 so as to accommodate itself to the refuse which is being compressed and to take up any misalignments of component parts.

The section 11 of the housing 1 is provided, inwardly adjacent the end face 6, with a plurality of apertures-- which may be slots or the likeidentified with reference numeral 16 and distributed circumferentially of the section 11. As shown in FIG. 4, these apertures 16 are covered at the exterior of the housing 1 with a strong coarse-mesh screen 18 which is connected in suitable manner to the housing 1, for instance with screws or the like.'Applied exteriorly over the screen so as to engage the exterior of the housing 1 and overlie the screen and the apertures 16, is a rubber or synthetic elastomeric shoe or collecting channel 19 whose crosssection will be evident from FIG. 5. Of course, the cross-section may be different from that shown in FIG. 5 and it is only essential that it be generally troughshaped. The side edges of the member 19 sealingly contact the outer surface of the housing 1 at opposite axial sides of the apertures 16 and the screen 18; the member 19 is advantageously provided in form of a strip whose opposite ends are secured, as by bolts 20,

to a mounting block 21 which is provided on the housing 1 at what is the upper side thereof in the illustrated embodiment. Because of the aforementioned inclination 3 of the housing 1 to the horizontal in direction towards the door 4, any liquid expressed from the refuse will drain to the apertures 16 and through these into the interior of the member 19. The coarse screen retains larger-sized particles which manage to escape through the apertures 16.

To facilitate flowing of expressed liquid towards the apertures 16, the door 4 is provided on its inner side which in closed condition faces the interior of the housing 1, with a strainer or drain plate 17 provided with corrugations extending vertically or at least substantially vertically in the illustrated embodiment. A similar strainer or drain plate 17a is provided on the platen 12. A side-elevational view of the strainer plate 17a secured to the platen 12 is shown in FIG. 2; and end elevational view of the strainer plate 17a is shown in FIG. 3. It will be understood that the strainer or drain plates 17 and 17a may be of identical construction and that expressed liquid can flow in the depressions of the-corrugations of these plates 17, 17a and subsequently along the bottom of the housing 1 towards the apertures 16. Further, the strainer plates may also be of other constructions; a waffle grid, or even a heavy screen could be utilized instead of the corrugations.

From the apertures 16 the expressed liquid moves into the interior of the member 19 which latter is provided, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, at or near its lowest point with a discharge port 2 2, and from there through a suitable conduit 22a into a strainer, grease trap and lean-out unit 23.

For sanitary reasons the apparatus in question should of course be readily cleanable. It is for this reason that the member 19 is preferably made of elastomeric material because one end of it can then be unfastened from the associated bolt 20 and the member bent to straight or more nearly straight shape, whereupon its interior can then be flushed with water or the like; also, it can be readily inspected.

Details of the device 23 are shown in FIG. 6. As pointed out before,,expressed liquid passes from'the member 19 through the outlet port 22 thereof into the conduit 22a and from there into the device 23. The device 23 comprises a settling box 24 into which the expressed liquid initially passes. Located in the settling box 24 is a strainer 25 provided with a small-mesh screen which screens out any solid particles still contained in the liquid. The screen may be rotated by a crank 26 against a doctor blade 27, to thereby clean off the accumulation ofsolid material which will then drop to the bottom of the settling box 24. The screen or strainer 25 may be inspected and removed, and solid material withdrawn from the bottom of the settling box 24, through a clean-out 240 located in the manner illustrated. The precise configuration, and the manner in which the clean-out 24a is normally maintained closed, are of no importance for purposes of the present invention.

Solid matter having been retained by the strainer 25, the clear remaining liquid will flow out in the interior of the strainer 25 through an opening 28 in the wall 29 which separates the settling box 24 from the remainder of the device 23. The liquid flows through the opening 28, thereupon downwardly around and upwardly beyond a partition 30, and subsequently above a further partition 31, downwardly and out through the outlet 32 which is connected in suitable manner with a receptacle, a sewer, or any other way of disposing of the liquid. In passing around the lower end of the partition the liquid is freed of any grease, because this portion of the device serves as a grease trap where grease rises to the top. A clean-out plate 23a closes an aperture provided at the top of the device 23 so that grease caught in the grease trap may be readily removed when necessary.

In accordance with my invention it is also desirable that a strong pressure be applied upon the platen 12 during the compression stroke thereof, utilizing the maximum hydraulic pressure and pump volume of the hydraulic unit. On the return stroke, however, very little pressure is required only such as is necessary, to move the unloaded platen and piston; it is desirable to have a quick return stroke as opposed to a slow compression stroke. An arrangement for achieving this is illustrated in FIG. 7. The cylinder of the cylinder and piston arrangement which moves the platen (not shown in FIG. 7) is here identified with reference numeral 33. It shall be assumed for purposes of explanation that the diameter of the cylinder 33, that is the internal diameter, is 4.5 inches. The piston 34 is received in the cylinder 33 and a seal 39 is provided to prevent communication between the spaces in the cylinder 33 located at opposite axial sides of the piston 34. Such seals are well known. Reference numeral 36 is a piston rod carried by the piston 34, reference numeral 37 an end gland and reference numeral 38 an O-ring, that is another seal preventing the escape of fluid at the illustrated location. Reference numeral 40 identifies screw threads provided at the free end of the piston rod 36 and enabling connection of the platen to it.

Using a constant-flow hydraulic pump, the piston 34 will move at a constant rate towards the end gland 37, hydraulic fluid being introduced in known manner into the chamber 35 and 35a through the inlet port 42 and 43. The diameter of the piston rod 36 shall be assumed for purposes of this explanation to'be 3.25 inches. Accordingly, the surface exposed by the piston 34 to the fluid in chamber 35 will be 15.9 square inches, assuming the dimensions mentioned bove, whereas the surface upon which fluid acts which is in the chamber 35a and admitted thereto through the port 43, is 6.28 square inches. The relative speed of the high pressure low-motion stroke towards the gland 37 versus the lowpressure but fast-motion return stroke away from the gland 37 will be proportional to the relative areas exposed to the action of the constant-flow hydraulic fluid. Taking into account that on the return stroke the piston is not loaded, the time of the return strokes will be only 39% percent of the time required for the compression stroke in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. This saving of time is most desirable as an operational advantage and permits economical sizing of the pumping equipment.

A further desirable feature is to assure that the pressure in the hydraulic system be limited so as to safeguard and prevent damage to the equipment. The shutoff pressure should be controlled to provide for uniform compacting or compressing of the refuse without requiring'attention or control by the operator. Furthermore, when the selected pressure is reached, the valve utilized in the hydraulic equipment should automatically serve to unload the system to prevent overheating of the oil in the reservoir.

I achieve these features with a system which is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 8. The hydraulic cylinder 14 is of double-acting type and actuates the platen 12 which is slidably arranged in the housing 6 which has the door 4 provided at its one end. This is as in the embodiments already discussed.

In order to assure relatively uniform density of compression of the refuse before the refuse is discharged from the device, the maximum pressure in the hydraulic system is limited to a preset pounds-per-square-inch value in accordance with arrangement shown in FIG. 8. To achieve this I use a directional control valve 44 provided with a control handle 45 which is movable from a center or neutral position (illustrated in full lines) to two opposite positions (illustrated in broken lines) in which it respectively causes the piston associated with the cylinder 14 to travel in opposite directions, that is to perform the compression stroke and the return stroke. The control valve mechanism is spring-loaded towards the neutral portion and can be maintained in to neutral position, terminating the flow of fluid to the cylinder 14.

When the handle 45 is in the central or neutral position, to which it is restored when the latch 48 releases the detents, the hydraulic fluid flows directly to the tank 49 at an unloaded pressure. Therefore, the pump 50 and the electric motor 51 are under very small running load and the oil in the tank 49 will not overheat. It will be appreciated that if continuous high pressure were to be maintained in the system, the latent pressure energy would be dissipated by heating the oil to an undesirably high temperature.

This system achieves the aforementioned advantages, and in addition assures that specific attention on the part of the operator is not required in order to maintain operation of the hydraulic system or to shut off the system when the end of the compressing or return stroke means and relays can also be employed for this purpose but would be more complicated and more expensive than the construction shown in FIG. 8.

The operation of my novel device will be evident from what has been set forth and from a consideration of the drawing. Refuse is simply introduced through the hopper into the cut-out 9 and thus into the housing 1. The hydraulic power unit associated with the apparatus, not shown but of conventional type, is then turned on and the platen is caused to move to its advanced compressing position. The refuse will thereby becompacted into a small pack, and any liquids expressed will drain into the unit 23, with particulate matter and grease being retained so that only clear liquid will leave the unit 23 to enter into'a sewer or the like. Now the door 4 is unlatched and opened, and the compacted refuse pack of refuse tends to stay together, that is little or none of the compacted refuse will become separated from the package when it is handled. If the door cannot be readily opened, the platen may be slightly retracted to relievepressure on the door, and the platen may be moved forwardly beyond its end position of the compression stroke in order to facilitate expulsion of the package of compressed refuse from the housing 1 and allowed to fall into a suitable container.

Subsequently the door is closed, the platen returned to its retracted or starting position, and new refuse can then be introduced.

Coming to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 it is emphasized that this concerns a refuse compactor which is of particular advantage when the refuse contains very significant amounts of liquid which are to be removed. This is the case, for instance, in school and ber, in the housing H, is again identified with reference numberal 1. As shown, the housing H is inclined downwardly towards the left (FIG. 9) at a small angle relative to the horizontal. Reference numeral 2 identifies the legs on which the housing H is supported. Reference numeral 12 is the platen which corresponds to the one described with reference to FIG. 1 and which preferably carries a strainer plate (not shown) similar to the plate 17; of course, the corrugations which are provided by the separate strainer plate 17 may instead be directly and integrally provided on the platen 12.

The hydraulic cylinder and piston unit 15 is designated with reference numeral 14 and is preferably constructed and controlled in the manner discussed with reference to preceding embodiments. According to FIG. 9a it may also utilize a swivel-joint 15a as shown,

so as to be capable of performing the earlier-mentioned self-aligning movements.

In place of the door 4 of FIG. 1 the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 has a transverse end wall 4a which is held in place in a slot of retaining ring 117. Alternate inwardly projecting radial lugs 116 and outwardly'projecting radial lugs ll5 engage behind one another after end wall 4a has been given a simple twist in circumfer- I ential direction to'lock the end wall in place. Its inner side, facing the interior of the compression chamber 1, may be provided with a strainer plate 17 (see FIG. 1) or analogous means having the ribs 98 thereon (FIG. 9). The end wall has slots 99.

Adjacent the middle of the housing H there is provided an opening 93 which may be closed by a curved door 93' hingedly connected to the housing H for movement about the axis 93a; a handle 93b is provided to permit lifting and lowering of the door 93'. It is through the opening 93 that refuse to be compacted is introduced into the chamber 1.

A cut-out 92 is provided in the housing H intermediate the door 93 and the end wall 4a. The housing H being of circular cross-section, this cut-out 92 extends over almost 180 of the bottom one-half of the housing. A cylindrical door 94 circumscribes the housing H and therefore also the cutout; it is guided in the guides 96 Y which exteriorly surround the housing H. Thus, the

commerical cafeterias and similar establishments where cups an other containers are frequently discarded with at least some of their liquid contents, e.g., milk containers in school cafeterias.

Refuse of this type presents a special problem in that it merely is necessary to separate the liquids from the solidsi.e., the containersbut requires no straining, filtering or other processing of the expressed liquids. The compactor of FIGS. 9 and 10 is intended for this particular use, but not for applicationsas in restaurants, for examplewhere the expressed liquid is admixed with semi-solids which must subsequently be separated from the liquid.

The compactor shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 fulfills the above outlined requirements. Its compression chamdoor 94 can be rotated about the exterior of housing H by gripping the handle 95. Sealing strips 97 prevent the escape of matter from the interior of the chamber 1.

when the door is in a predetermined position relative to the latter; in other positions of the door 94 the cutouts are out of registry and therefore the opening is closed. I

Reference numeral 91 identifies a drain for expressed liquids. A chute 99a surrounds the cut-out 92 and is preferably of one piece with-or fastened tothe end cover 100 so' as to be removable with the latter for ease in assembling and disassembling of the unit. Wing nuts are secured to ring. 117 and hold the cover in place.

Suitable safety interlocks of well-known type may be provided on the doors to prevent operation of the cylinder and piston unit when either of the doors is open.

Refuse introduced through opening 93 is compacted in the manner described with reference to the preceding embodiments. Liquids expressed flow to and through the drain 91. Compacted solids remain at the left-hand end (see FIG. 9) of the chamber 1 and are discharged under the influence of gravity by rotating the door 94 until its cut-out is in registry with the cutout 92.

It will be appreciated that in operation of the compactor disclosed herein, the plunger and platen move relatively quickly during the compacting stroke, although not as quickly as they may move during the return stroke. Nevertheless, their increment during the compacting stroke is such as to expel liquids from the refuse at a rapid rate. Assuming, for instance, that the Compactor is supplied with the contents of a standardsize ,32-gallon capacity refuse container, and that this refuse contains percent liquids, then the quantity of liquid expelled from such a load during the compacting stroke will be 4.82 gallons. Evidently, unless sufficiently rapid drainage is available this liquid will tend under the influence of pressure exerted upon it, to escape wherever it can find an outlet. Because no tight seal is provided between the plunger and the housingas evident from the preceding Figures.the liquid would ordinarily be able to escape in this direction, a clearly undesirable contingency.

To avoid this possibility, and to reduce the build-up of pressure inthe compacting chamber, I have provided the apertures 16 shown in FIG. 4. However, in

accordance with a further embodiment I may eliminate these apertures and replace them-or else supplement the, if I so desire-with liquid-storage voids as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 11 and 12. Reference numeral 1 1 1 identifies a platen analogous to those shown in the preceding Figures. It is provided with ribs 112, a concept which is also shown in the preceding Figures. However, according to the embodiment of FIGS. 11

and 12 the'ribs 112 are so deep and so spaced that they thus accounting for 60 percent of the surface area of I the platen. Assuming that the latter has a diameter of inches, and given the above dimensions, it may be ascertained that 314 sq.in. X 60 percent X 3 inches 564 cu. in. of void space. Dividing this by the 231 cu. in. content of liquid per gallon yields a storage capacity in the spaces 113'which may be considered recesses,

grooves or generally voids-of 2.43 gallons. If the door 4--which closes off the end of the compacting chamber opposite to the platen.111'-is of similar dimensions and provided with similar ribs 112 and grooves 113, then the combined temporary storage capacity of the voids or grooves 113 in platen and door is 4.86 gallons, namely the equivalent of the liquid which would normally be expected to be expressed from the contents of a .32-gallon capacityv refuse container. This liquid will flow into the grooves 1 13 during the compacting stroke of the platen 1 11, and then gradually drain off through the outlet which is provided in the usual manner.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application'in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a refuse compressor, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A refuse comressor comprising, in combination, a housing provided with an elongated internal chamber bounded in part by two longitudinally spaced opposite walls; inlet means communicating with said chamber for admitting into the latter quantities of refuse to be compressed; platen means received in said chamber for sliding forward movement therein from a retracted position clear to one of said walls to an advanced position closer to the other of said walls for compressing the admitted refuse between said other wall and said platen means during said forward movement, and for sliding return movement from said advanced position to said retracted position; operating means comprising a hydraulic system for effecting forward movement of said platen means to said advance position at a first speed and under a first pressure, and for effecting return movement of said platen means to said retracted position at a higher second speed and under a lower second pressure; control means for preselecting the maximum hydraulic pressure value which is to prevail in said system, and for reducing hydraulic pressure in said system in response to attainment of said maximum pressure value; and drain means in the region of said other wall for receiving liquid expressed fromsaid refuse by said platen means, including an enclosed drain element for conducting such liquid exteriorly of said housing and to I a receiver for the liuqid which accommodates means for trapping grease which forms part of the liquid.

2. A refuse compressor as defined in claim 1, said hydraulic system comprising a cylinder, a piston received for reciprocation in said cylinder and dividing the same into two axially spaced chambers, said piston having oppositely directed endfaces one of which is located in one of said chambers and has a first cross-sectional area and the other of which is located in the other of said chambers and has a second substantially. larger cross-sectional area, a piston rod projecting axially from said one endfaces and out of said cylinder into connected engagement with said platen means, and first and second pressure-fluid conduit means each adapted to be connected with a source of pressure fluid and respectively communicating with said one and said other chamber.

3. A refuse compressor as defined in claim 2, said hydraulic system further comprising a source of pressure fluid communicating with said conduit means for supplying fluid under pressure thereto.

for reciprocation in said cylinder, and apiston rod carried by said piston and having a free end; and further comprising connecting means pivotably connecting said platen means with said free end of said piston rod. 

1. A refuse comressor comprising, in combination, a housing provided with an elongated internal chamber bounded in part by two longitudinally spaced opposite walls; inlet means communicating with said chamber for admitting into the latter quantities of refuse to be compressed; platen means received in said chamber for sliding forward movement therein from a retracted position clear to one of said walls to an advanced position closer to the other of said walls for compressing the admitted refuse between said other wall and said platen means during said forward movement, and for sliding return movement from said advanced position to said retracted position; operating means comprising a hydraulic system for effecting forward movement of said platen means to said advance position at a first speed and under a first pressure, and for effecting return movement of said platen means to said retracted position at a higher second speed and under a lower second pressure; control means for preselecting the maximum hydraulic pressure value which is to prevail in said system, and for reducing hydraulic pressure in said system in response to attainment of said maximum pressure value; and drain means in the region of said other wall for receiving liquid expressed from said refuse by said platen means, including an enclosed drain element for conducting such liquid exteriorly of said housing and to a receiver for the liuqid which accommodates means for trapping grease which forms part of the liquid.
 2. A refuse compressor as defined in claim 1, said hydraulic system comprising a cylinder, a piston received for reciprocation in said cylinder and dividing the same into two axially spaced chambers, said piston having oppositely directed endfaces one of which is located in one of said chambers and has a first cross-sectional area and the other of which is located in the other of said chambers and has a second substantially larger cross-sectional area, a piston rod projecting axially from said one endfaces and out of said cylinder into connected engagement with said platen means, and first and second pressure-fluid conduit means each adapted to be connected with a source of pressure fluid and respectively communicating with said one and said other chamber.
 3. A refuse compressor as defined in claim 2, said hydraulic system further comprising a source of pressure fluid communicating with said conduit means for supplying fluid under pressure thereto.
 4. A refuse compressor as defined in claim 2, wherein said second cross-sectional arEa is equal to at least double said first cross-sectional area.
 5. A refuse compressor as defined in claim 1, said hydraulic system including a cylinder, a piston received for reciprocation in said cylinder, and a piston rod carried by said piston and having a free end; and further comprising connecting means pivotably connecting said platen means with said free end of said piston rod. 